I agree, Microsoft is definitely starting with the right pieces, including encryption and data loss prevention since this is still one of the big issues with most cloud storage. By placing the proper controls here, it means enterprises can now roll out an enterprise strategy with the right security built in to hopefully fix a lot of the issues that arise when employees use third party cloud storage solutions. Additionally, having a strong disaster recovery solution means that enterprises can start to better manage their cloud BCP/DRP strategy by simplifying it thanks to Azure.

Once again, Microsoft is being Microsoft. Starting with an imperfect hand, it incrementally improves and improves it. In the end, Azure will be a cloud better than some and in contention with the best of them.

As InformationWeek Government readers were busy firming up their fiscal year 2015 budgets, we asked them to rate more than 30 IT initiatives in terms of importance and current leadership focus. No surprise, among more than 30 options, security is No. 1. After that, things get less predictable.